Wealth Blog

A yacht for your helicopter

Sometimes even a megayacht isn't big enough. So to solve the problem of not enough space, wealthy sailors are investing in so-called support yachts to ferry around their personal helicopters, speedboats, sports cars and all the other assorted toys that go into a season in the Mediterranean's hottest marinas.

Yacht-maker Amels has launched a new version of its support yacht -- the 220-foot-long Sea Axe, according to CNBC. The company is not publicizing the price, but says it has sold two so far and has interest from buyers for additional orders.

Many of the largest yachts can't get close to shore, making tenders a necessary convenience for ferrying owners and guests back and forth. And of course, owners want to have all their toys at the ready -- jet skis, helicopters, speedboats and such. Rather than take away space on a yacht that can be put toward swimming pools, hot tubs and spacious cabins, owners can take advantage of the support yacht, Amels marketing chief Victor Caminada told CNBC.

In addition to its usefulness, the Sea Axe can travel up to 25 knots per hour and looks nice in the marina. "It's like a pimped-out pickup truck," Caminada said. "It's not like an ugly duck trailing along. It looks good."

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6 Comments

Tom Joyce

December 27, 2012 at 9:35 am

I have seen yachts in Marina Del Rey, California with helicopters perched on the aft portion of the poop deck. Never seen one that takes off and lands while I am sailing by on my rented sail boat but it is impresive and they all fly flags of Nations in the Carribean or Asian Waters.
I wonder sometimes as to whether they are owned by Oil "Barons.The slip fee and diesel fee would exceed most peoples yearly income.

James Winters

December 27, 2012 at 6:02 am

OMG I have heard it all. From the comments and the article. A support yacht how quaint. Why not 2 or 3 so you can go ashore later your wife can take one to meet her beef cake since shes 30 years younger than the owner of all this and the 3rd your crew so they can sell their drugs in style.

S. Scaramuzza

December 26, 2012 at 2:17 pm

You really shouldn't comment on something if you don't know what you're commenting about. The yacht,(not yatch)has a top speed of 25knots. That's 28.76mph (miles per hour)or 46.28kph (kilometers per hour)Knots is not expressed as KPH.

Regards,
Hope that was helpful.

JD

December 25, 2012 at 8:48 pm

Like I really care, ash Obama. He has one

Fool Proof

December 25, 2012 at 4:27 pm

@Hartley90

You should probably read that again. It doesn't say the boat accelerates are 25 kph. It says the boat has a top speed of 25kph. It definitely would not take an hour to reach its top speed, and after four hours it would not be going 100kph, it would still be going 25kph.

hartley90@comcast.net

December 25, 2012 at 4:11 pm

On the down side, having a yatch that can ACCELERATE at 25 knots per hour requires an hour to REACH 25 knots. However, after ACCELERATING at 25 knots per hour for four hours, it would have a VELOCITY of 100 knots. Spectacular!!!

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